CLEO PATRICIA CURD

Posted on by Kathy

CLEO PATRICIA CURD

December 5, 1941 to December 2, 2019

“The heart and soul of our family”

Cleo Patricia Curd—a quiet philanthropist and intensely devoted wife, mother, and entrepreneur, whose creativity and intellect served family, friends and community alike—passed away on December 2nd, in Las Vegas, NV, her husband at her side.

She was 77.

“Cleo” did not like her first name and insisted on being called Pat. It suited the San-Francisco-raised gal with the mid-Western temperament just fine. When her kids called her “the heart of our family”, you believed it. Yet, her inventive flair and compassionate nature made for the gracious, sophisticated, caring person she was. Frequently referred to as “sweet Pat”, she was not only sweet she was also smart and ambitious. And she loved a good joke.  Continue reading “CLEO PATRICIA CURD” →

DAVID LEROY MOORE, DDS

Posted on by Kathy

DAVID LEROY MOORE, DDS

June 30, 1951 to November 8, 2019

A star from the start

David Leroy Moore—a beloved father, Naval officer, and dentist whose vibrant personality, sense of humor, and dedication to disadvantaged children and communities will long be remembered—passed away at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in La Jolla, on November 8th, his children, grandchildren, and sister at his side.

He was 68.

David, shown with daughter Tiffany above,  was a star from the start. His best friend, Byron Duvall, recalls meeting him at Meharry Medical College in Nashville in 1976. “Dave was the budding senior, about to graduate top in his class, both scholastically and technically.  All of his classmates respected his work and felt he had the it factor,” Byron said.

That was proven when a frantic classmate, doing “bootleg” dentistry on a stranger he had just met, was trying to pull a tooth and it broke. “He panicked, and then got super-student Dave,” Byron said. “In no time, Dave had removed the tooth and the patient was gone. He became a legend that day.”

Known for terrorizing his sister

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JOHN WESLEY CHIPMAN

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JOHN WESLEY CHIPMAN

October 30, 1964 to November 8, 2019

Nonchalance, history, and sports

John and Ernesto Banes at play.

John Wesley Chipman—a beloved son, brother, uncle, and friend known for his nonchalance (until he got to know you), dry wit, vast knowledge of history, all things sports and movie related, and lamenting every faulty move made by USC football since the Pete Carroll years—passed away on November 8, 2019 at his home in Woodland Hills.

He was just 55.

An avid reader, John was anything but an open book. Even when the text became clear, few but those closest to him had the honor of comprehending his humor, his idiosyncrasies, his paradoxes. One of his best friends, Greg Dare, relates how John was a chronic ranker.

“Many of our conversations would include some sort of challenge to list or rank things for debate/critique by the other,” Greg wrote in a final letter honoring his friend. “For example, the top 5 movies with Tom Cruise, best quarterbacks six feet tall or less, worst professional sports outfit.” The letter was read at John’s memorial by their mutual friend, Ernesto Banes.
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JOE HELLER

Posted on by Kathy

The New York Times called it “The Best Obituary Ever”

JOE HELLER

January 24, 1937 – September 8, 2019

NOTE: When Joe Heller died at 82 on Sept. 8, his daughter Monique Heller wrote a paid obituary in the Hartford Courant on Sept. 10, 2019, describing her father’s inimitably irreverent and preposterous personality. (Subheads added here.)

Excrement meatloaf sandwiches

Joe Heller made his last undignified and largely irreverent gesture on September 8, 2019, signing off on a life, in his words, “generally well-lived and with few regrets.” When the doctors confronted his daughters with the news last week that “your father is a very sick man,” in unison they replied, “you have no idea.”

God thankfully broke the mold after Joe was born to the late Joseph Heller, Sr. and Ruth Marion (Clock) on January 24, 1937 in New Haven, CT. Being born during the Depression shaped Joe’s formative years and resulted in a lifetime of frugality, hoarding and cheap mischief, often at the expense of others. Being the eldest was a dubious task but he was up for the challenge and led and tortured his siblings through a childhood of obnoxious pranks, with his brother, Bob, generally serving as his wingman. Pat, Dick and Kathy were often on the receiving end of such lessons as “Ding Dong, Dog….” and thwarting lunch thieves with laxative-laced chocolate cake and excrement meatloaf sandwiches.

Named his first dog “Fart”

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RYAN DOUGLAS REITMEYER

Posted on by Kathy

RYAN DOUGLAS REITMEYER

July 23, 1976 — September 1, 2019

An Incredible Will to Survive and Thrive

Ryan with parents, Debbie and Doug Reitmeyer.

On the morning of September 1, 2019, the world lost a young man who lit up every room he ever entered and brought a smile to the face of every person he ever met. Ryan Reitmeyer was an awesome and valued friend to hundreds, and he inspired thousands that knew of his challenges and how he so positively dealt with them every moment of his life.

Ryan had an incredible drive to succeed.  Barely surviving a 2005 boating accident that left him with a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), he overcame inconceivable odds with the help of his family, friends, caretakers, medical experts and the use of advanced technologies from researchers around the world. A native Texan, he went on to live a vibrant, inspiring, activity-filled life for more than fourteen years.

Although Ryan suffered a fatal aneurysm and ultimately passed away at Seton Williamson County Medical Center on September 1st, his legacy lives on through his having proven the value of miraculous innovations that aided in his recovery. Several of these innovations are now providing hope and help for other TBI sufferers, including returning war veterans.

He was just forty-three.

Ryan’s will to not only survive but thrive characterized his life. He had an incredible ability to connect with people, a love of friends, good times and life on Lake Travis. One had only to visit his website to see hundreds of photos of Ryan, family and friends frolicking on weekends in and around Austin.

Quick to smile or sing a song

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